Lasting-hook.



PATENTED JUNE 9,1903.

W.-L. DA 302m.

LASTING HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1902.

H0 IODEL.

T I. 3y I I TIE. 3. FIG-.4.

UNITED STATES Patented June 9, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

LASTlNG-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,238, dated June 9,1903. Applioation filed February 7, 1902. Serial liq. 93,029. (Nomodel.)

' and useful Improvements in Lasting-Hooks,

of which the followinglis a specification.

My present invention relates .to improvements in boot andshoemakingtools, andw particularly to an improved lasting-hook.

The invention will" be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings', in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe containinga last and showingtlie manner of using my improved hook. Fig.2 is anelevation of the hook. Fig. 3 is a sectional view' 011 the line A B ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, on the line C D ofFig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the detachable last-block of anysuitable shoelast. Such blocks are detachably connected to the lastbodies by suitable fastenings, which can be disengaged or released byinserting the hook end 2 of a lasting-hook in the socket 3, formed inthe last-block.

In lasting a boot or shoe it is customary after inserting the last todraw the shoe-upper somewhat closely over the lastblock by means of arelatively short lacing cord or thread 4. After the operation iscompleted such cord or thread is cut and the last-block and lastremoved. Heretofore the shoemaker has employed his ordinary knife to cutthe cord or thread A and then used the lastinghook to release andwithdraw the last-block. This practice, however,necessitates theemployment of two separate tools, and, moreover, it often happens thatin using the sharp-edged knife to cut the cord or thread at the leatherof the shoe-upper is out and damaged.

To avoid the necessity for employing two tools to accomplish the purposeabove referred to and provide a means for cutting the cord or threadetthat will be practically superior to the knife commonly employed is theobject of my invention. I provide the hook portion 2 of the lasting-hookwith a cutting edge near its free end, which is adapted, when the hookis placed in the position shown in Fig. 1 and drawn upward, to sever thecord or thread 4. As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, this cutter onthe lasting-hook may be provided by forming in opposite sides of thehook portion or end of the hook two notches 5. These are preferably ofsuch form as to reduce the body of the hook between them tosubstantially triangular form,

;with the apex of said triangular-shaped core extending toward the innersurface or face of the hook. By this construction it will be noticedthat the end of the hook is not point- .ed or sharpened, but remainsblunt, as in the hook commonly in use, a protecting-flange 6 beingprovided beyond the cutting edge 7. This'cutting edge being the inneredge of the triangular-shaped body formed by the aforesaid notches'5 ispreferably made slightly concave, asshown in Fig. 2, so that saidcutting edge is protected, it being within the planes of the surfaces ofthe sides and end of the hook.

The improved last-hook is preferably made of suitable steel and isprovided with a handle 8 in the usual manner.

The manner of using my improved hook and the advantages incident toproviding it with the cutting edge 7 may be briefly described, asfollows: When it is desired to withdraw the last from the shoe, the hookis brought into the position shown in Fig. 1, the flangelike end of thehook being inserted beneath the cord or thread 4. By drawing the hookupward said cord is severed, and'during this movement of the hookonlythe blunt end thereof contacts with the leather, so that there is nodanger of its being cut or damaged. After the cord 4 is severed the endof the hook is inserted in the socket 3 to release the fastening by.which the last-block is connected to the last and to withdraw said blockin the ordinary manner. Owing to the manner in which the cutting edge 7is formed, it is not dulled by the use of the hook for detaching thelastblock and does not interfere at all with the use of the hook forthat purpose.

By my invention thejnecessity for employing a separatetoolto out,thelretaining-cord or lacing 4 is obviated,land a; considerable savingof time is therebyeffected In other words, by my invention alasting-hook'is provided which is adapted to perform all of thefunctions of such hook as commonly constructed and also to sever thelacing cord or ICC thread 4: and to accomplish the latter result Withoutany danger of injuring the leather of the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

As an article of manufacture, the herein-described shoeinakerslasting-tool consisting of a rod having a suitable handle at one end andhaving near its other end a bend so that the free end thereof projectslaterally from the body of the tool, the metal of saidlaterallyprojecting section being reduced near the end thereof toprovide a cutting edge, the end being blunt and provided with aprotecting- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

WILLIAM L. DA ROZIR.

\Vitnesses: HERBERT E. THURsToN,

E. ABRON GARRIsoN.

